Scandiobabingtonite is a rare scandium-bearing silicate mineral belonging to the babingtonite group. Collectors typically look for it as small, dark, triclinic crystals formed in the cavities of granitic pegmatites or alpine-type veins.
Is this scandiobabingtonite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch scandiobabingtonite with a known reference. Scandiobabingtonite sits at Mohs 6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: greenish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, prismatic.
Often confused with
Scandiobabingtonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Scandiobabingtonite leaves greenish black, Babingtonite leaves brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Scandiobabingtonite leaves greenish black, Aegirine leaves pale yellowish gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Scandiobabingtonite leaves greenish black, Augite leaves gray-green.
Often found alongside scandiobabingtonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with scandiobabingtonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ca,Na)₂(Fe,Mn)(Sc,Fe)Si₅O₁₄(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 3.24 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Greenish black
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Perfect in one direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Found in a miarolitic cavity
Where rockhounds find scandiobabingtonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Montecatini quarry in the Baveno granite, near Novara, Piedmont, Italy (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Found in a miarolitic cavity. If you start seeing quartz, orthoclase, epidote in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify scandiobabingtonite?+
Where is scandiobabingtonite found?+
What rocks look like scandiobabingtonite?+
What minerals are found with scandiobabingtonite?+
What kind of rock does scandiobabingtonite form in?+
What is scandiobabingtonite used for?+
Find scandiobabingtonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
